Disaster response in a New York minute

The collapse of the World Trade Towers on September 11th left behind a disaster site like no other in New York City’s history. Access to the site was nearly impossible—roads, buildings, subway stations, and infrastructure facilities were all damaged. In the aftermath, our engineers were uniquely positioned to assist.

Having designed the Route 9A urban boulevard, we were able to jump in and help the state by creating a fast-track design for repair and rehabilitation. The first order of business was to provide a haul road in and out of the site to facilitate cleanup, and then to design an interim roadway to get the corridor, which had been cut off between Chambers Street and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, back open to traffic.

In the months that followed, the corridor reopened in stages, respectful of the various demands of the World Trade Center site cleanup and rebuilding operations. As the site transformed from cleanup operations to the most active construction site in the country, we worked with the state and led the design effort to rebuild the damaged portions of the roadway. Newer, smarter, and more resilient.

We also incorporated enhancements to improve the urban space, including revamped pedestrian safety and crossings, more green space, and more community gathering areas within the rebuilt corridor.

We finished the first phase a year ahead of schedule, providing a critical first step in rebuilding lower Manhattan.